More questions about bringing a desktop computer

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are planning a move to London in August, and we are debating whether we should buy a new computer before we move.  We'd like to get a desktop with a large flat-panel monitor, so that we can use it to watch movies (in lieu of getting a television).  From reading other posts, it looks as though it's relatively easy to use a desktop computer on UK voltage, but I'm still not entirely clear about whether we will be able to use a computer monitor without a converter of some kind.  Does anyone have any advice on this?  For what it's worth, we are planning to buy a Dell.

Also, if we do try to bring over this monitor, does anyone have any advice about getting it to the UK?  We're planning to ship our belongings with a shipping company (possily UPakWeShip), but we're leery of sending something as fragile as a flat-panel monitor by this method.  Do you think it would be okay to check it as luggage on the airline?  Or perhaps to ship by UPS?  Does anyone have any other suggestions?  This may be unethical to ask, but is there any way that we are more likely to get around having to pay a hefty customs fee (this is for personal use, obviously).

Finally, we are wondering about DVD compatibility.  We are hoping that we can just buy some sort of external DVD drive for the computer once we get to the UK that will allow us to watch DVDs (we want to also have the US-compatible DVD drive on the computer, though, so that we can send videos of our baby to the grandparents in the US!).  Does anyone know if this will be easy enough to do?

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give!

Jade

As you will have to pay to get it over and will then have to pay duty, would it really be that much cheaper than buying a Dell over here?


Vicky

Try doing some comparison shopping on sites like www.pcworld.co.uk before you make a decision!

I bought a new PC before I left the US and had it shipped over -- but I was bringing a huge half-container full of furniture, so one more item didn't add anything to the cost for me. 

From reading other posts, it looks as though it's relatively easy to use a desktop computer on UK voltage, but I'm still not entirely clear about whether we will be able to use a computer monitor without a converter of some kind.

I assume from your other post in the electronics area that  you've decided not to ship the monitor anyway, but for the record, some monitors will automatically switch between 120 and 240V operation, but some will not.  The markings/labels on the rear should indicate the allowable input voltages.

This may be unethical to ask,

It's no less ethical than the government extorting money from you on an item which is already yours.    

Finally, we are wondering about DVD compatibility.

See technical issues thread in electronics.